About Author: Dr Kausik Maiti, MD, Executive Director, Medical Sciences at Parexel India. As the Global Head of Safety Medical Sciences, Dr Kausik Maiti spearheads a team of over 300 highly qualified professionals across India, the US, the EU, and China. He leads significant initiatives in partnership with business partners, supervises client accounts and business operations, and provides strategic direction in the field of global safety services leadership.
India grapples with a grave crisis in the form of cancer, standing as the second-largest contributor to cancer deaths in Asia. Projections estimate a staggering rise to 1.57 million cases by 2025, signalling the urgent need for a robust understanding of this growing health challenge. However, despite the severity of the situation, India faces a critical barrier – the absence of accurate and comprehensive cancer data.
Why does this matter?
The National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP), initiated in 1982, serves as a pivotal tool in collecting cancer data nationwide. While this is a good start to keep track of cancer patients, its coverage remains inadequate, extending to only around 16.4% of the population. Accurate data forms the cornerstone of effective cancer surveillance. It plays a pivotal role in tracking trends, identifying high-risk populations, and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention efforts. The consequences of the data gap extend to hindering research and innovation, essential components in the fight against cancer.
The United States witnessed a notable 27% drop in cancer deaths between 2001 and 2020, driven by advancements in treatments, early detection, and a reduction in smoking. However, India lacks similar benchmarks, making it challenging to identify the driving factors behind the increasing cancer cases, understand remission rates, and assess the frequency of disease recurrence.
What does this mean for clinical trials and research?
Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of ongoing clinical research. A recent Lancet report identified nearly 1,988 cancer trials were conducted between 2007 and 2021 in India, offering promise for testing new treatments and expanding our understanding of the disease. However, even within this positive research landscape, disparities emerge that warrant attention and intervention.
“Between 2007 and 2017, India conducted only 350 interventional cancer trials, a significant contrast to the 2066 trials registered in the US in 2017 alone. This stark difference underscores the urgency for India to accelerate and expand its research efforts in cancer.”
